The weather forecast for the fourth Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier at Woodlands View Fishery, Droitwich held on Wednesday 25th April 2012 had been grim at best.

The only consolation being that it was pretty accurate for once. Heavy rain greeted the 130 competitors at the draw changing to tropical conditions around the middle of the match, with some hail and strong winds thrown in for good measure.

Despite all this the ever reliable Woodlands View still provided some excellent weights and a close finish with several anglers all in with a chance going into the final hour. The top five anglers all recorded over 80lbs and the lowest weight to take a 10 peg section was 36lbs.

Winner was Jamie Hughes (Maver and Bag em Baits) aged 28 years of age from the Wirral who put 118lbs 1oz on the scales from peg 5 on Barley Pool. Jamie fished pellet feeder all day with meat on the hook to take an all carp catch with fish to 8lbs.

Jamie Hughes said “I kept it very simple during the match to fish one pellet feeder rod to the far bank as it was terrible conditions and very windy. This was my first qualifier fished so far this year with three more to go so I am made up to get through to the final, which will be my second time”.

Runner up from peg 4 on Arles was Jon Arthur with 101lbs 15ozs. The bulk of his fish were taken shallow on the long pole. He caught a few better fish in the afternoon on the short pole. Jon had carp to 10lbs in his catch. Steve Rothery almost made the long journey from West Yorkshire really worthwhile to record 90lbs 5ozs for third place from Arles peg 8. He caught some 20 assorted fish on the waggler topping these up with fish on the pellet feeder and later on to the short pole with his best fish being 6lbs. In fourth position was Craig O’Brien who caught 86lbs 5ozs on the feeder from Barley 15. Peter Goodwin took 82lbs 11ozs down the edge on maggot from Ghost peg 22.

On Saturday 28th April 2012 the fifth Fish ‘O’ Mania qualifier heads to Lakeview Fishery at Holwell, Leicestershire.